Nurture your child’s brain with these …

Top brain food for children

Very few of us are aware that the brain of a two-year-old produces 10 lakh-plus neural connections every second! Alike the body, the brain too develops rapidly during childhood and needs the right nourishment to capitalise on that growth. 

Foodism brings for you some brain-optimising foods that you just can’t miss out on -

Amla

Besides boosting immunity and improving eyesight, amla helps in fighting off harmful free radicals in the brain.

Apples and Plums

Alongside carrying vitamins and minerals that boost the energy levels of children; they also contain quercetin, an antioxidant that purportedly fights decline in mental skills.

Avocados

Apart from Vitamin K and potassium, avocadoes contain folate which helps in brain development

Beans

Beans – carrying protein, complex carbohydrates, fibre, lots of vitamins and minerals and omega-2 –keep a child’s energy and thinking level at a peak for a long time and hence are important for brain growth and function.

Berries

Get your child to relish berries (blackberries, blueberries and strawberries) and pump-in polyphenols which keep the mind sharp by increasing blood flow to the brain.

Dairy Products

Dairy foods are replete with protein and B-vitamins—essential for growth of brain tissue, neurotransmitters, and enzymes.

Eggs

A super food for brain development, eggs provide essential proteins and nutrients that help children concentrate.

Fish

Fish (salmon, tuna and sardines) are excellent sources of vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acid, which protect the brain from declining mental skills and memory loss.

Greens

The benefits of green vegetables are multiple as they are packed with antioxidants that help brain cells grow. Spinach for example is replete with folate and vitamins, and hence linked to lower odds of getting dementia later in life.

Nuts

Replete with protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals, nuts and seeds are mood boosters and help keep the nervous system in check.

Oats

Besides providing excellent energy for the brain, oats are also good sources of vitamin E, B-vitamins, potassium, and zinc that enable brain functions.

Turmeric

This remedial spice reduces any damage the brain may have sustained over time besides stalling the growth of beta-amyloid plaque in the brain which leads to enhanced mental strength.

Whole Grains

Whole grains provide the brain with a constant supply of glucose. They contain fibre that helps regulate the release of glucose into the body; and also have B-vitamins which promote a healthy nervous system. 

So include the above foods in your daily menu and keep your kiddo’s brain healthy.